Responsible for nominating the winners of the annual Award of Merit; also coordinates other awards given by the association: DBA Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, DBA Young Lawyer of the Year, Judicial Excellence, and Teacher of the Year.

This committee provides an opportunity for members to reach beyond the legal community to the Denver community at large and provide valuable legal, educational, social and civic assistance to those in need. On-going programs include addressing the issues of the homeless, education, and encouraging attorneys to serve on boards of non-profit agencies. Please note the Community Action Network check-off on the committee preference sheet.

The Docket is the publication for the Denver Bar Association. Each month, The Docket presents news of interest to the Association's members calendars of events and CLE classes; restaurant, movie and book reviews; practice tips, gossip and humorous articles of all kinds. The committee members write material and work with the DBA staff to publish The Docket. Written material is solicited from all members of the DBA, not just the committee members.

A joint CBA/DBA committee. A committee consisting of attorneys and other professionals that seeks to promote better understanding among the professions; prepares statements of principles governing interprofessional relations; and assists in resolving disputes between professionals. Maintains the Interprofessional Code.

The Democracy Education Committee meets the first Thursday of every month at the CBA offices. The committee recruits law professionals into Denver Public Schools. Projects include: Denver Regional Mock Trial Tournament, National Constitution Day, in-class mock trial scripts for elementary, middle and high schools, “We the People” volunteer training, K-5 Law Day Art Contest, DBA-DPS Guest Teaching Initiative, PALS (Partner Alliance of Lawyer and Schools) and speaker bureaus. Currently, we are working to get attorneys into the classroom to substitute teach.

This group of attorneys, chaired by Don McMichael, is for those members “65 or better.” The committee has four big events throughout the year. The biggest party of the year is the Senior Spring Banquet, which honors Denver lawyers who have been licensed for 50 years. The committee’s fall event, the “Seniors Roast,” honors an attorney or judge nominated by the most active senior members for his/her outstanding commitment to the legal community. December’s Holiday Party is the most casual of the events and includes connecting with familiar faces, spreading holiday cheer and enjoying tasty fare. July’s golf tournament is always a hit with the senior members and adds a little competition to the event calendar. New members are welcome.

Attorneys are always needed to answer requests for Mock Trial support, career days, court tours, classroom presentations and public speaking.

A full list of programs and their descriptions is provided below for your convenience. Your unique and finely honed skills are always needed and gratefully appreciated by Public Legal Education. Volunteer early and volunteer often!

Community Based Projects

Program Name

Program Description

Time Commitment

Timing

Lawline 9

Staff a Lawline 9 call-in program. Answer general legal questions and provide legal information and referrals to other community legal resources. Weekly topics vary and can be found here. Legal resource information provided.

Conduct a pro se legal clinic for the community in a variety of areas, Family Law, Collections, Small Claims, Bankruptcy, Veterans. Contact the DBA Public Legal Education Department if you have a clinic you'd like to offer

2 hours + prep time

Ongoing during the year, Once a month

Mile High United Way Center for Family Opportunity Center

The Mile High United Way, Denver Public Schools and Denver Bar Associations are collaborating to implement adult self sufficiency service programs for the Denver Public School community. The Denver Bar Association will provide monthly legal clinics at College View Elementary located in South Denver at 2675 S. Decatur Street in a variety of areas such as family law, immigration, consumer rights, housing and tenant rights. We are looking for attorneys to volunteer to speak in a classroom setting in each topic area. Click here for the 2014-15 Legal Clinic Schedule.

1 hour and half + prep time

Ongoing during the year, Once a month

School Based Projects

Program Name

Program Description

Grade Level

Time Commitment

Timing

Speakers

Speak to a class on any one of a variety of topics.

All Levels

1-3 hours

Ongoing during the school year, depending on school requests

Court Tours

Take classes on tour of the local City/County Courthouse; training/orientation provided. Non-litigators welcomed!

All Levels

2-3 hours

Ongoing during the school year, depending on school requests

Career Days

Speak about the legal professions to a classroom, or at a CBA/DBA sponsered booth.

All Levels

3 hours

Ongoing during the school year, depending on school requests

Law Day Art Contest

Volunteers go into classrooms and conduct a lesson plan based on the American Bar Association Annual Theme. The students create art work based on the theme and are entered into the DBA contest for prizes.

K-Middle School

2 hours

January and February

Law Week

Law Week Volunteers: Implement curricula and programs in classrooms during the first week of May; includes dialogue formats and in-class activities.

Middle and High School

1-3 hours

First week in May

In-Class Mock Trials

Visit a classroom to help implement and explain what a mock trial is and how it works. Teachers work with students in advance. Mock trial scripts are available for elementary, middle, and high school classes.

All Levels

1-3 hours

Ongoing during the school year, depending upon school requests

In Class Law-Related Activities

Implement miscellaneous law-related activities in the classroom. Materials are provided for use by attorney and teacher.

All Levels

2-4 hours

Ongoing during the school year, depending on school requests

Colorado Mock Trial Program

Attorney Coaches (A.C.): Partner with teachers to coach students about mock trial elements and prepare a case problem for regional/state mock trial competition.